November Embroidery Sneak Peek

I did some stitching throughout the month of November.  I dusted off my embroidery case full of threads (literally had to dust it off as it hasn't been used in....I can't even remember how long) and while I can't share the projects with you because some might end up being Christmas gifts, I would like to give a sneak peek!

I did a little thread sorting and had to wind some bobbins  (that's almost as fun as embroidering!)
 

 

 

I found this SWEET 1930s reproduction material at JoAnn's Fabrics.  Because I had a coupon, and because I loved it so much I bought a whole yard!  I found out that JoAnn's has a ton of new 1930s feed sack styles!  Yeah, because that's what I need is more feed sack fabric. (eye roll)

 

 

Here is a sneak peak at what I'm doing with this adorable fabric.

A little red rick-rack is always fun!

 

Oh, I can't wait until when I can show you all of my embroidery projects!

Until another time, have a happy stitching day!
 

Flea Market Finds--April

Last weekend the folks joined us at the April flea market.  This flea was the biggest one I'd seen yet!  I found a few treasures.  Sitting here, I'm trying to decide on a favorite, but just can't! 

They ALL make me happy.

 

 

 The table cloth in the background is one I couldn't pass up.  I have two of the matching napkins in one of my vintage linens boxes and plan to use them all during springtime (If I'm ever able to own a REAL, old-fashioned, little, rectangular, farm kitchen style table like the one below).

 

 

Anyway, back to the flea...I really liked these "springy" napkins.  The flowers are little scraps of cloth that have been appliqued onto the napkin.  The detail and handiwork are amazing!  I highly doubt these are machine made, and must have taken someone a long time to make.  The fruit one is just so wonderfully cheerful. 

 

 

 

 

These items below, I bought from a lady that I like to chit-chat with about crochet and embroidery.  She's usually working on something as she sits waiting for customers.  The Keepsake Needle Arts catalog isn't vintage (unless you think 2006 is vintage) but I'd never seen one before!

 

 

Not sure why I bought this, just thought it was cool.  I can store some little things in it I suppose.  It would've been even cooler had there been a Super-8 film in it. Someone's home movies perhaps, or an amazing train derailment (just a little movie humor there...if you haven't seen the movie Super 8 I recommend you do).

 

 

Autumn and I LOVE this next item, in fact we split the price (even though it cost about the same as a candy bar haha!).  She will use it when she plays with her 1940s era dolls and I will use it all other times.  It's an actual, working, plastic radio but the batteries had corroded inside.  I gave it a good cleaning with an old toothbrush, replaced the little felt pieces and connected a small box on the back that my iphone can slip into.  It now sits on my counter and "plays" 30s and 40s music!

 

My last purchase at the flea was this October 1941 Ladies Home Journal.  I'm always tickled to find old magazines and this one is a beauty, full of neat old ads and articles! (More on this magazine in a later post).

 

 

As we were leaving, my dad surprised me with this P&G soap that I've had my eye on for quite some time.  Thanks, Dad!!

 

 

 

Then it was off to one of my favorite little places in town, Vintage City where I purchased a book and two Needle Craft Magazines from 1916, to add to my little collection.  The book is called Ginnie and Geneva and is by Catherine Woolley.  It was written in 1948 and looks similar to the Carolyn Haywood books I love so much.  I find it interesting that written on the inside is "fifth and sixth" which I'm thinking might mean grades.  But the story and vocabulary is so simple!  I do believe our children today are learning a much heftier vocabulary than those in 1948 (but I could be wrong).

 

 

 

And the magazines.  I can't wait to leaf through these and scan a few pictures and ideas from them.

 

 

Well, it was a fun weekend!  There are only one or two fleas left this spring, and then it will be summer and garage sale season.  Garage sales around here mostly consist of baby items, old game systems and Tupperware.  There's not much luck to be had in the "vintage" department. 

 

Well, until another time, have a happy vintage day!



Springtime Embroidered Napkin Finished!

Here is the little springtime napkin finally finished.

Of the five photos taken of this little guy, only this one turned out semi-decent. 

 

 

Now I just need to find another small project to have on hand to embroider here and there.  Hmmm, what shall it be?

Until another time, have a happy stitching day!

Springtime Embroidered Napkin

Today I'm going to talk a bit about how I make some of my own cloth napkins for the dinner table (known also as a serviette in Canada and the UK).  I'm not a big believer in paper towels.  I can't really explain why, they just seem wasteful to me, I don't like the "throw-away" aspect of them. 
Therefore, when we eat our meals, we use cloth napkins instead of paper towels. 

One of the drawbacks to cloth napkins is that over time they tend to deteriorate.  That's because I wash them in hot water, sometimes with a tiny bit of bleach added (to kill any germs).  Because of this deterioration, I'm always making replacements.  (I use the old ones for dusting, dirty jobs and whatnot).

The whole thing sounds tedious, but I actually enjoy it very much!  I love to embroider on things that are useful and cloth napkins for the dinner table are useful, and easy to stitch-up in a day or two. 

This is a little blue bird vase napkin I started last night.

Call me cheap, but cloth napkins found in the stores can be kinda pricey, and sometimes fade over time.  So, I'm going to try a new plan.  I simply cut a new, inexpensive, regular sized dish towel into four sections, hem up the sides on my machine, and presto! there are four blank napkins to embroider.

He's a work in progress.

Sometimes I draw or trace a small pattern, but iron-on transfers are an easy option as well.  Usually, an Aunt Martha iron-on pattern will have a small "test" pattern included in the set, and those tiny test patterns are perfect for a small napkin corner. 

No, no, not THAT kind of test pattern (although my TV loving husband might like that one).
I'm talking about these little test patterns.

When I get this little Blue Bird Vase napkin done I will share it with you!
Until then, have a happy, vintage day!

New Vintage Linens

One of my favorite things to collect are vintage linens and tea towels.  If it is a kitchen towel, I try to imagine the kitchen that it came from and the people who used it.  If it is a fancy towel adorned with needlework, I think of the time someone spent working on it.  Did she find the time after all of the supper dishes were washed and put away.  Were the stitches stitched by the light of a kerosene lamp or electric?  Was she able to sit and stitch for a spell in the afternoons, while sitting on her front porch swing?  Maybe watching her children playing nearby. 
I love kitchen linens but most of all I love their untold stories.
Here are a few items I've been able to pick up recently.

These cuties are bright and colorful, but they aren't in the best of shape.  I am hoping to be able to save them....somehow.

This beauty above is so precious.  I'm not sure what it was used for, maybe a decorative bathroom towel...maybe a wedding gift from an Aunt who lives in Iowa.  We'll never know.  Below, is the flower detail.

My mom bought me the cheerful little blue and yellow serviettes below, and I think they go quite nicely with the my yellow tablecloth!  These make me long for an old farmhouse type of kitchen table, white with two folding leaves that can pop up or down.  I'd decorate the table with these bright linens, and set a bouquet of daisies in an old fashioned milk bottle right in the center.  Instead of wishing for something that I don't have...maybe I'll try it with my little card table someday!

And finally, my mom and I spotted these at our favorite little vintage shop, Vintage City, and I just love them.  Merry Christmas to me!  Again, they are hand stitched and I wonder, "By whom?"  And I didn't even ask if the seller knew their story!  Shame on me!

Well, that's all for today.  Daycare projects have been taking up a good majority of my time lately, and I'll try to share some of those ideas with you all soon.  It's just so hard to find an hour or two here and there to do some blogging!  So, until another time, have a happy vintage day, everyone!